Alpe d'Huez is a mountain at 45° 03' N, 6° 02' E in the Central French Alps, in the Isère département. It is 1780 metres (5,839 ft) high. Alpe d'Huez is also a famous ski resort.
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Tour de France
It is one of the most famous of the mountain climbs on the Tour de France. While the route varies from year to year, l'Alpe du Huez has hosted a stage finish almost every year since 1976 The Tour de France first finished a stage on l'Alpe d'Huez in 1952. That stage was won by the Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi. The climb up Alpe d'Huez is 14km at an average gradient of 10% with 21 hairpin bends marked with panels honouring the winners of each stage that has finished there. Having finished there for the 22nd time in 2002 the authorities have had to start again at the bottom with a double panel honouring Fausto Coppi and Lance Armstrong. The 2004 Tour de France route features an individual time trial up Alpe d'Huez (Stage 16 - July 21)
The peak is also serves as the finish of La Marmotte - a one-day, 175km ride with well over 5000m of climbing and is used for downhill, or Alpine skiing.
Winners of the Alpe d'Huez stage at Tour de France
*In the 1979 Tour de France, there were two stages at l'Alpe d'Huez.